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Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, 24 May 2023: A consortium of Orascom Construction and Metito will, together with the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company PJSC (ADNOC) and Abu Dhabi National Energy Company PJSC (TAQA), develop, own, and operate a large-scale seawater treatment and water transportation project worth up to $2.4 billion in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, UAE. Orascom Construction is the consortium leader.

The greenfield project will be funded through a special purpose vehicle (SPV) on a build, own, operate and transfer (BOOT) model for 30 years. ADNOC and TAQA will jointly hold a 51% stake in the SPV, and Orascom Construction and Metito will own 49% (24.5% each).

The mega project will comprise a greenfield seawater nanofiltration plant with a treatment capacity of more than 110 million imperial gallons per day (500,000 m3 /day) in addition to seawater intake and outfall facilities, pumping stations, a water transmission pipeline of approximately 75km, and an infield distribution network of more than 230km to support reservoir pressure maintenance in the Bab and Bu Hasa fields in Abu Dhabi.

The project will replace the current aquifer water injection systems used for maintaining reservoir pressure in ADNOC’s onshore oil fields, thereby ensuring sustainable water supply for ADNOC’s onshore operations while preserving the UAE’s natural aquifer resources. The project will also enhance energy efficiency by up to 30% and reduce ADNOC’s environmental footprint compared to the current injection system.

Osama Bishai, CEO of Orascom Construction, commented, “We are proud to partner with ADNOC and TAQA to deliver a project that is key to the sustainable development of the UAE’s oil and gas sector. We started our focus on important water projects over a decade ago and have since played a major role in undertaking some of the most complex projects in this sector. We are also very pleased to strengthen our presence in the UAE as we continue to target strategic projects in the region across sectors in which we have developed strong expertise. This project also plays a key role in our growth strategy to pursue infrastructure investments that provide both construction opportunities and longterm recurring income.”

Rami Ghandour, Metito Managing Director, emphasized, “The UAE established its name as the leader for knowledge-based, future-focused economic strategies and a leader in combating climate change and promoting water positivity. Being a global hub for innovations and sustainable practices, this mega project is testament of how capitalizing on technology can revolutionize industry norms and practices to best preserve valuable water resources and the environment. Over the years Metito has built a strategic project portfolio of mega concession projects and iconic world and industry firsts and we are confident this will be a landmark project and a global milestone. We are honoured to be part of this.”

Orascom Construction PLC is a leading global engineering and construction contractor primarily focused on infrastructure, industrial and high-end commercial projects in the Middle East, Africa, and the United States. The Group also develops and invests in infrastructure opportunities, owns 50% of BESIX Group, and holds a building materials, facility management and equipment services portfolio.

Orascom Construction has been executing its strategy to build, own and operate projects in the water and concessions sectors, and has been strengthening its leading position as a key player across the region.

Most recently, the Group completed some of the largest projects in the water treatment sector worldwide such as Bahr El Baqr Water Treatment Plant in Egypt, the largest in the world with a capacity of 5.6 million m3/day, and Abu Rawash Wastewater Treatment Plant in Egypt, one of the largest in the world to be executed in one phase with a capacity of 1.6 million m3/day.

In addition, the Group is the co-owner and co-developer of Egypt’s first PPP project, New Cairo Wastewater Treatment Plant, and Saudi Arabia’s first Independent Sewage Treatment Plant (ISTP) project, Dammam West ISTP. Orascom Construction is dual listed in the UAE and Egypt (Nasdaq Dubai: OC; EGX: ORAS).

April 4, 2023 – Dar Es Salaam Water Supply and Sanitation Authority (DAWASA) awarded Metito, a leading provider of intelligent water management solutions, the contract to design, build and operate a new wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) in Dar es Salaam region, Tanzania at Mbezi Beach area. The project is expected to reduce environmental pollution through safe treatment of wastewater.

Located in the Mbezi Beach area, in Kinondoni District, of Dar Es Salaam, the 16,000 m³/day wastewater treatment plant will have state-of-the-art engineering and technologies to enhance operational and maintenance costs, improve sludge quality, and minimize the overall carbon footprint. Additionally, the plant will be designed in almost half of the allocated area, optimizing land usage and maximizing savings.

Metito’s scope of work involves three years of operation and maintenance for the wastewater treatment plant with the full participation of DAWASA staff members in all operational sections of the treatment plant. Metito will utilize conventional activated sludge technology and implement anaerobic digestors to produce biogas followed by Combined Heat and Power (CHP) generation system which will reduce electric power consumption by almost 40 percent at ultimate plant capacity. Metito will also use the sludge anaerobic digestion process in the first treatment phase to ensure the sludge is stabilized and the quality of the sludge is maintained.

Tanzania has renewed its commitment to increasing access to clean water by adopting the Sustainable Development Goal 6 (clean water and sanitation for all) targets, which the UN set for 2030[1]. The Mbezi Wastewater Treatment project will contribute to Dar Es Salaam region’s sustainable economic and industrial development by creating skilled jobs and safeguarding the health and well-being of the community by providing efficient wastewater treatment.

Commenting on the new award, Karim Madwar, Metito Africa Managing Director said, “The project is a true milestone towards modernizing Dar es Salaam’s wastewater system and bolstering the resilience of its water infrastructure, all while safeguarding its natural ecosystems. Metito’s founding principles are Impact, Sustainability, and Innovation, and this project ticks all the boxes. We are proud to be working with Dar Es Salaam Water Supply and Sanitation Authority on this project and are looking forward to making this a benchmark to similar projects in the region.”

This project is being financed by the  Government of the United Republic of Tanzania in collaboration with the World Bank.

” Access to water and sanitation in Tanzania can transform the economic outlook in Dar es Salaam and propel its social development and sustainable growth. We have trusted Metito, a world-leading provider, to develop the new WWTP in the Mbezi beach area and we are confident that the impact that will be created once the plant is operational is highly cost-effective and brings great value to the local community. ” Kiula Kingu the Acting CEO for Dar Es Salaam Water Supply and Sanitation Authority added

The project award was signed on the 22^nd of March, and construction is expected to commence in April 2023, with the commissioning date set for October 2024.

[1] World Bank: Tanzania Economic Update: Universal Access to Water and Sanitation Could Transform Social and Economic Development

• Metito and British International Investment join forces to establish Africa Water Infrastructure Development (AWID) platform.
• The new platform aims to address water insecurity and will create a viable commercial model for investment in water infrastructure and provision in Africa.

Cairo – 12 March 2023: Metito Utilities Limited (MUL), a global investor and operator of water, wastewater, and alternative energy management solutions, and British International Investment (BII), the UK’s development finance institution and impact investor, announced the launch of their new company Africa Water Infrastructure Development “AWID”, a first-of-its-kind platform to develop climate-smart water projects at scale and to increase water security across Africa.

The official launch of AWID took place at the British Embassy in Cairo, and was hosted by the British Ambassador, Gareth Bayley; MD and Head of Africa for BII, Chris Chijiutomi and Metito MD, Rami Ghandour. The launch was attended by key business leaders in Egypt and from across Africa as well as leading government officials.

Water insecurity is a critical development challenge in Africa.[1] Climate change is expected to reduce water availability and increase the extent of water scarcity, exacerbating existing water-related vulnerabilities caused by other socio-economic factors.[2]   Water quality deterioration is also a major threat among communities throughout Africa as most wastewater generated remains untreated. The significant gap in storage, supply, and access to clean water and sanitation services urgently calls for effective and efficient water management infrastructure.

Climate-induced changes in the water cycle is impacting the provision of water supply to health, economies and food, and increasing inequality of water access.2 COP27 recognised the interdependencies of the water-food-energy nexus, and the implications of climate change, calling for scaled-up investments in water solutions to mitigate, adapt, and increase resilience to the adverse effects of climate change in Africa.

The new platform, AWID, will finance water and wastewater management treatment plants as well as develop and construct world-class facilities that will help to increase access to sustainable, safe and reliable water with a clear focus on countries that are most vulnerable to the climate crisis.

AWID will demonstrate a viable commercial model for water infrastructure and provision in Africa, helping to mobilise long-term investment into the sector. Its investments will integrate green technologies and alternative energy components, which will help to reduce the environmental footprint of water infrastructure projects.

An operational bulk surface water treatment plant in Kigali-Rwanda forms the first asset under the new platform. The 40,000 cubic meters per day plant is currently providing over 25 per cent of the city’s potable water supply, meeting the needs of 500,000 domestic, commercial, and industrial consumers. The Kigali water treatment plant is a public-private partnership (PPP), which is the first of its type under this business model in sub-Saharan Africa (outside of South Africa).

Andrew Mitchell, UK Minister for Development and Africa said: “The climate emergency has made water insecurity a major development challenge in Africa. BII’s partnership with Metito to launch the AWID platform, signals the UK’s continuing commitment to increase development and climate partnerships and financing to help the most vulnerable people and countries impacted by climate change.” 

Commenting on the new partnership, Rami Ghandour, Managing Director of Metito said: “As Africa undergoes rapid urbanisation, there is a pressing demand for water infrastructure. Such projects are particularly capital intensive. An increasing funding gap requires mobilising sustainable investments into the sector. Our partnership with BII will leverage our high-value engineering and use of innovative technologies with access to unrivalled financial resources and support.”

Chris Chijiutomi, MD and Head of Africa at BII added: “Our partnership with Metito is part of BII’s strategy to improve development outcomes by investing in water, sanitation and hygiene. AWID will demonstrate to other investors, governments and operators that private investment can deliver operationally efficient and high-impact water infrastructure projects at scale, that have the potential to drive transformative and sustainable impact in Africa.”

Commenting on the launch, Morgan Landy, Global Director for Infrastructure at the International Finance Corporation (IFC) said: “Investing in water infrastructure is a strategic priority for IFC in Africa and we are working with the private sector to close the funding gap in this critical sector. As a long-standing Metito shareholder, IFC is proud to witness the launch of this new Africa-focused platform that will invest in climate-smart water projects, further promoting economic growth and building a more water-secure Africa.”

AWID will help to contribute to the UN’s Sustainable Goals (SDG 3) on Good Health and Well-being, (SDG5) on Gender Equality, (SDG 6) on Clean Water and Sanitation and (SG13) on Climate Action.

[1] UNU-INWEH (2022), State of Water Security in Africa A Preliminary Assessment v5-Final

[2] Trisos, C.H. et al (2022), Africa. In: Climate Change 2022: Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability. Contribution of Working Group II to the Sixth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.

9 November 2022: Fujairah Fresh Water Production Co. Ltd. awarded Metito, the leading global provider of water and alternative energy management solutions, the contract to build the second phase of the Fujairah Port desalination plant.  This is a significant project for Fujairah, given the port’s strategic location and sophisticated infrastructure which enables businesses across the region to expand their commercial footprints, both locally and internationally.

Chairman, Eng. Khamis Alnoon, of Fujairah Fresh Water Productions Co. Ltd, added: “Fujairah port has developed significantly to become a strategic location with world-class facilities, and it continues to improve and grow to meet the exciting and diverse demands of the future. We are pleased to collaborate with Metito again for the second phase of our project and trust their strong expertise in incorporating sustainability with innovation in the solution they have proposed for this project”.

This project award was announced following a competitive bid, and the project is set to be completed in less than a year. Metito will be responsible for the engineering, procurement, and construction of the 3,500 m3/day plant, interconnecting it seamlessly with the existing facilities to meet the growing demand for potable water.

Fady Juez, Managing Director of Metito, said, “Fujairah port is one of the Middle East’s most important ports, and we are honored to play an instrumental role in supporting its vision to become a world-class multipurpose hub. For this second phase of the plant, we are utilizing state-of-the-art, advanced technologies and with our high-value engineering we have devised a solution that achieves power optimization, less operational cost and a greener overall project with less emissions.”

Metito developed Phase 1 of the Fujairah Port seawater desalination plant more than twenty years ago, the capacity of 3000m³/d, via 2x1500m°/d streams.

Commenting on this award; Ahmed Hayajnah Metito General Manager of Dubai, Northern Emirates, and Oman said: “The original project was in line with the stringent requirements of Fujairah Fresh Water Production Co. Ltd, and its long-standing efficient operations is another testament to the sustainable nature of the solutions Metito has been providing for more than 65 years of successful operations across more than 53 countries in different geographies. We are honored to be part of this new project and look forward to its successful completion”.

Public Private Partnerships Taking the Gulf Region by Storm

Public Works Authority “Ashghal” Awards the Consortium “Metito”, “Al Attiyah Motors & Trading Company”, and “Gulf Investment Corporation”, Qatar’s First Sewage Treatment PPP Project – With a Total Project Cost of appx. 5.4 billion Qatari Riyals

Qatar Public Works Authority – “Ashghal”, awarded the consortium Metito, Al Attiyah Motors & Trading Company, and Gulf Investment Corporation (GIC), the contract for the development, design, build, finance, and procurement of a 150,000 m³/day sewage treatment works (STW) project under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) agreement.  The 5.4 billion Qatari Riyals project, located in the areas of Al Wakrah and Al Wukair, marks the country’s first sewage treatment PPP project.

In an official signing ceremony held in Qatar yesterday, his Excellency Sheikh Khalid bin Khalifa bin Abdulaziz Al Thani, Qatar’s Prime Minister and Minister of Interior graced the signing ceremony for this historic project. His Excellency stated that the initiative of signing the contract of Al Wakrah and Al Wukair STW project is a culmination of the State’s efforts to consolidate the partnership between the public and private sectors, on the one hand, and attract and stimulate local and foreign investments on the other. This step also reflects the confidence that the State ties to the ability of the private sector to work side by side with the government sector to complete significant development projects in various fields, including infrastructure and water treatment projects.

Commenting on the contract award, Mutaz Ghandour, Chairman and CEO Metito, said, ” For decades, we have witnessed Qatar investing heavily to improve economic, social, human, and environmental outcomes for the country and this project is yet another milestone in this progressive journey.  Metito has been closely working with its Qatari stakeholders, developing projects since 1987, and being awarded this contract alongside our partners is a great honor and a testament of our commitment to play a leading role in enabling Qatar to achieve its ambitious water agenda”.

The Al Wakrah and Al Wukair STW project will contribute to the achievement of Qatar’s 2030 Vision to streamline water consumption and encourage the use of unconventional water resources. The consortium’s scope will involve the design, construction, and delivery of KAHRAMAA facilities, including a primary substation, initial commissioning, performance acceptance testing, and 25 years of operations and maintenance.

On this occasion, Abdul Aziz Al Attiya, Chairman of Al Attiyah Motors & Trading Company, said: “We are the largest shareholder in this consortium, which means providing an effective contribution to the capital, in addition to our decades-long experience working within Qatar. We are proud to be awarded this contract under a public-private partnership for the next 25 years, with the local and global expertise that our consortium has.”

Rami Ghandour, Managing Director Metito, added,” We are delighted to work in partnership with the Qatari government and our partners on this historic project. Impact investment is a key principle for Metito and its an honor to lead on a project that supports Qatar’s efforts to develop and implement a sustainable drainage infrastructure across the country.”

“Metito & partners will be investing the equity required, and Metito will be integrating the latest technologies as we invest close to 1 billion dollars. Through our experts, access to global resources, and extensive knowledge of the local Qatari requirements and specifications, we are confident we are absolutely the right partner to develop this strategic project”, concluded Rami Ghandour.

Meshary Al-Judaimi, Group Head – Principal Investment at GIC stated, “In line with its strategy to focus on sectors with high added value to the economies of the region, GIC has chosen the development of utilities and infrastructure projects as one of the most important sectors. There is no doubt that the state of Qatar, through the Public Works Authority, has demonstrated its ability to attract international, regional, and local private enterprises for the development of this important project.”

Walid Oraby, Metito Qatar Executive Director, added, ” With a local workforce of over 2200 employees and extensive operations in Qatar, we are very familiar with the local water sector and its challenges. Our understanding of local requirements backed by our strong engineering capabilities, and innovative technologies, will enable us to deliver a world-class project fitting of Qatar. We have worked extensively with Ashghal before, and we are excited for the opportunity to design and deliver this long-term sustainable project along with our partners.”

The Contract for the realization of the water treatment project in Zrenjanin was signed between Metito, the City of Zrenjanin and Serbia’s Public Water Company.

12 July 2022: The signing of the first public private partnership project for the realization of a water treatment plant facility in the Republic of Serbia, has been announced at an official ceremony earlier this week. Metito, a leading global provider of intelligent water and alternative energy management solutions, has been appointed by the City of Zrenjanin and Serbia’s Public Water Company (PWC), as the partner to develop, modernize and operate a state-of-the-art water treatment plant in the City of Zrenjanin.

The contract was signed by Metito Managing Director, Rami Ghandour, Mayor of the City of Zrenjanin, Simo Salapura, and PWC Acting Director, Predrag Bodiroga. The signing ceremony was attended by the Prime Minister of the Republic of Serbia, Ana Brnabic, H. E. Ambassador of the UAE in Serbia, Mubarak Saeed Burshaid Al Dhaheri, Metito Vice President for Business Development, Walid Madwar, and Metito Country Manager for Serbia, Branislav Zec.

“With the signing of the Contract for realization of a water treatment project in Zrenjanin, we have taken a huge step towards solving a decades-long problem for the citizens of Zrenjanin. I would like to thank the Mayor of Zrenjanin and his team for their persistent efforts to find a solution to such a complex challenge together, and I also thank the Public Water Company and especially Metito Company, which, based on its experience in the water sector around the world and the innovative technologies it applies, will be our true partner on this project,” said Prime Minister of the Republic of Serbia, Ana Brnabić.

The water quality challenge in Zrenjanin is a complex case and after thorough due diligence, Metito devised a sustainable and innovative solution that will see the company integrating state-of-the -art technology and leveraging its global resources and expertise while committing to environmental stewardship. Such strategic projects will help the Republic of Serbia achieve its Water Management Strategy in support of the country’s 2020-2025 Vision and sustainable development goals.

The Mayor of Zrenjanin, Simo Salapura, stated: “This Contract represents a double gain. We have as our partner a renowned company that has innovative technology, and the investment value of at least 18 million EUR. The biggest guarantee of this project will be the Government of the Republic of Serbia, and we have invested maximum caution and made sure to minimize risks for the city and citizens to the lowest possible level.”

Rami Ghandour, Metito Managing Director, commented: “We are honoured to work alongside the Serbian Government, the City of Zrenjanin and the Public Water Company on this strategic project. Over the course of six decades of global experience, a growing portfolio of over 3,000 projects across 50 countries, we have partnered with governments, worked with industries and communities to secure and manage their water needs. We are confident we can deliver this project, while keeping the health, safety and environment central to our sustainable operations.”

Metito currently has two active projects in Serbia with a planned investment of approximately EUR 50 million. Earlier in 2021, Metito launched its strategic operations in the Republic of Serbia, through investing in the Zrenjanin Wastewater Treatment Plant PPP.

Metito Egypt was recognized for its commitment to health and safety by the Egyptian Ministry of Housing for its outstanding HSE performance at the “Senetit El Refaeen” wastewater treatment plant. The project, with a capacity of 12000 m3/day, received the Golden Helmet Award.

This accolade is a testament to Metito’s continuous efforts in prioritizing HSE initiatives across its projects, across markets.

The Egyptian Ministry of Housing launched the Sustainable Rural Sanitation Service Program SRSSP to promote strict adherence to the safety rules and regulations on sites and workplaces.

Metito successfully passed all the award’s criteria, including HSE management standards, safety conditions at the workplace, the number of best HSE practices, PPE’s workforce commitments, and general site conditions.

Metito won the “Workspace Transformation Award” in the second edition of the Future Workspace Summit & Awards 2022. The awards celebrate outstanding companies that are leading innovation and transformation of workplace in the UAE.

Metito’s award reflects the agile, ever-evolving emphasis placed on digitization and impact operations, and keenness for the early adoption of new technologies such as cloud, which improves efficiencies across the organization.

Its forward-thinking approach to connecting offices, customers, partners, and users by deploying the SASE technology was also recognized as it helps to consolidate multiple products, solutions and security measures under a single platform.

Rami Ghandour, Metito Managing Director, was a panelist at the Uzbekistan International PPP Roundtable held in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, on the 20th of May 2022. The event discussed the progress and achievements of the PPP program by the Government of Uzbekistan, including large-scale investments and reforms.

At the event, Ghandour said: “Metito pioneered PPPs in the water and wastewater sector in seven countries, including UAE, Egypt, Rwanda, Saudi, Serbia, and Qatar. Our latest project is the Uzbekistan PPP for the Namangan City wastewater treatment plant where we will implement the latest innovations in energy-efficient, low-emission treatment processes and incorporate anaerobic technology to generate biogas as a by-product. This could later be used in power generation.”

“The technology incorporated into the Namangan project is expected to save about 10MW of power each day, which will reduce the overall carbon footprint by 1,400 tons per year, consuming 35% less power” added Rami.

Metito’s work on the Namangan City wastewater treatment plant involves designing, building, financing, operating, and maintaining a 100,000 m³/day wastewater treatment plant and constructing a new 7.5km effluent discharge pipeline in the Namangan district. The project worth USD 100 million is the first wastewater project to be implemented under the country’s Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Law undertaken by the Ministry of Housing and Communal Services with the Government’s full support.

Rami Ghandour, Metito Managing Director, was a panelist on the ‘Raising Capital for Power and Water Projects’ panel at the World Utilities Congress hosted by Abu Dhabi National Energy Company (TAQA).

Held under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed, Member of Abu Dhabi Executive Council and Chairman of Abu Dhabi Executive Office, the first-of-its-kind event offered an unrivaled opportunity for the global power and water industry stakeholders to discuss the advancing technologies influencing the future.

Rami highlighted how the evolving COVID-19 pandemic saw governments encourage private sector participation in developing mega infrastructural projects, with a focus on efficiency, optimization, and sustainability.

“With the globally evolving fluctuations in traditional energy prices and growing environmental concerns, leaders, and decision-makers – especially in the MENA and Gulf regions are taking progressive action towards developing more hybrid water projects. Desalination plants powered by alternative and traditional energy are trending and able to secure needed water quantities, save on energy costs and become more environmentally friendly,” Rami commented.